Question

Directions:

For this assessment, you will be helping Galileo perform the experiment to determine if objects with different mass fall at the same, or different, rates in the air and in a vacuum. To find the experiment you need to go to lesson 1.04 and select the apply tab. Scroll down to Galileo on the leaning tower. Follow the directions given there.
Part One: Part One: The Lab
Before you conduct your experiment, you need to form a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a prediction of what you think will happen in the experiment. The hypothesis is a statement that describes "if" a certain set of circumstances are present "then" there will be a specific result that will occur. Hint on how to write a hypothesis: If____________________then_______________.
Please type your answer to question one in box below (2pts)
2. Record the results from step one of the experiment (dropping the objects in the air): (2pts)
First trial (Big Ball vs. Feather):
Second trial (Small Ball vs. Feather):
Third trial (Big Ball vs. Small Ball):
3..Record the results from step two of the experiment (dropping the objects in a vacuum): (2pts)
First trial (Big Ball vs. Feather):
Second trial (Small Ball vs. Feather):
Third trial (Big Ball vs. Small Ball):
4. Did the experiment support your hypothesis? Using the data from your experiment, describe why you believe your hypothesis was either proven or disproven. (2pts)
5a. What forces were acting on the objects dropped in the air? (1pt)
5b. What force was acting on the objects dropped in the vacuum? (1pt)
Part two: Comparing Forces
For this section please use the following forces: gravity, electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force.
1. Choose two forces and compare and contrast these forces. You must provide two ways that they are alike and two ways that they are different. You may make a list, write in paragraph form, or make a chart. (5pts)
2. Choose two forces and compare and contrast these forces. These must be different forces than used in the prior question. Provide two ways that they are similar and two ways that they are different. You may make a list, write it out, or make a chart. (5pts)

Answer 1

A valid hypothesis for Galileo's experiment might be that objects of differing masses will fall at the same rate in a vacuum due to the constant acceleration of gravity. In the air, air resistance affects fall time, with heavier objects falling faster. Only gravity acts on objects in a vacuum, while both gravity and air resistance act on objects in the air.

Step-by-step explanation:

To predict the outcome of Galileo's experiment, where objects with different masses are dropped from a tower, we can formulate the following hypothesis: If objects of different masses are dropped from the same height and wind resistance is not a factor, then they will reach the ground at the same time due to the constant acceleration of gravity. Galileo likely timed the objects' fall using periodic processes such as his own pulse or a swaying pendulum as a rudimentary stopwatch.

In the air, the first trial with a big ball and a feather, the feather would fall slower due to air resistance. In the second trial, the small ball and the feather would show a similar result. The third trial with the big ball versus the small ball should demonstrate closer fall times but still potentially different due to varying air resistances as they are not the same size. In a vacuum, where air resistance is negligible, all three trials would result in both objects falling at the same rate due to gravity's consistent acceleration.

Forces acting on the objects while falling in the air include gravity and air resistance, whereas in a vacuum, only gravity acts on the objects. When comparing the forces, gravity and the electromagnetic force are similar in that they both have infinite range and act between particles; however, they differ as gravity is always attractive and weak compared to the electromagnetic force, which can be both attractive and repulsive and is much stronger. Comparing the strong and weak nuclear forces, both act at very short ranges and inside atomic nuclei, but the strong force holds protons and neutrons together, while the weak force is responsible for radioactive decay and is comparatively weaker.